Freddy Schott claimed his first DP World Tour title in dramatic fashion after a strong performance at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, beating Calum Hill and Patrick Reed at the Royal Golf Club.
The victory of the girls decided in the play-off
Schott finished tied at 17 under par after 72 holes alongside Hill and Reed, with the trio returning to the 18th for a sudden playoff. Reed charged into the contest by closing with a 67 to erase the deficit, while Hill carded a 71 after starting the second day. Schott’s solid 69 was enough to secure a spot in the decider.
Reed was the first to fall after a bogey on the opening extra hole. Hill then faced brutality when he hit his tee shot out of bounds on the second tee shot out of the hole and followed it up with a shot into the water. With Schott safely positioned, the Scot conceded before his rival had to go outside, giving the German his first win of the tour.
Schott gets an unforgettable moment
Presented with the award by His Royal Highness Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Schott was overwhelmed to put the achievement into words.
“I don’t know. It’s amazing, I’m so happy and surprised. I really don’t know what’s going on right now,” he said. “I could have done it the normal way and it would have been great, but doing it this way feels even more special.”
Reflecting on the closing stages, Schott added that he purposely walked between holes late in the round to calm his nerves and stay in the game. “These are the times you play golf. I’m glad I got it over the line and we’ll see what the future holds.”
Final rounds and near misses
Hill had previously threatened to run away with the title, adding to his overnight lead with an opening birdie and stretching four after five holes. Momentum swung again and again as both players mixed in birdies and costly errors, including two doubles each on the back nine.
Sergio Garcia and Reed also applied pressure, while Daniel Hillier set the clubhouse target at 16 under with a blemish free 66. Reed briefly got to 18 under but dropped a shot to the back, and Hill’s bogey finally allowed Schott to par and force play.
Hill and Reed ended up sharing second place at 17 under, with Garcia and Hillier tied for fourth and Ugo Coussaud tied for sixth.
Growing the game and recording crowds in Bahrain
Beyond the leaderboard, the tournament continued to play an important role in the development of golf in the State. Local players Ahmed Alzayed, Ali Alkowari and Khalifa Almaraisi all gained valuable experience competing with the majors, even if they missed the cut.
The event also attracted large crowds, with a crowd of 13,186 over four days representing a 30 percent increase on last year. Spectators enjoyed a festival atmosphere that included live music, family activities and the Championship Village, underscoring Bahrain’s growing reputation as a world-class sports venue.
Organizers have already invited fans to register their interest in the 2027 edition as the Championship looks set to build to another memorable week at the Royal Golf Club.
